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L'arthrose (OA) est une maladie articulaire dégénérative, classée comme la forme la plus fréquente au monde. Elle est caractérisée par la dégénérescence du cartilage articulaire, l’inflammation de la membrane synoviale, et le remodelage de l’os sous-chondral. Ces changements structurels et fonctionnels sont dues à de nombreux facteurs. Les cytokines, les prostaglandines (PG), et les espèces réactives de l'oxygène sont les principaux médiateurs impliqués dans la pathophysiologie de l'OA. L'interleukine-1β (IL-1β) est une cytokine pro-inflammatoire majeure qui joue un rôle crucial dans l'OA. L'IL-1β induit l'expression de la cyclooxygénase-2 (COX-2), la microsomale prostaglandine E synthase-1 (mPGES-1), la synthase inductible de l'oxyde nitrique (iNOS), ainsi que leurs produits la prostaglandine E2 (PGE2) et l'oxyde nitrique (NO). Ce sont des médiateurs essentiels de la réponse inflammatoire au cours de l'OA qui contribuent aux mécanismes des douleurs, de gonflement, et de destruction des tissus articulaires. Les modifications épigénétiques jouent un rôle très important dans la régulation de l’expression de ces gènes pro-inflammatoires. Parmi ces modifications, la méthylation/ déméthylation des histones joue un rôle critique dans la régulation des gènes. La méthylation/ déméthylation des histones est médiée par deux types d'enzymes: les histones méthyltransférases (HMT) et les histones déméthylases (HDM) qui favorisent l’activation et/ou la répression de la transcription. Il est donc nécessaire de comprendre les mécanismes moléculaires qui contrôlent l’expression des gènes de la COX-2, la mPGES-1, et l’iNOS. L'objectif de cette étude est de déterminer si la méthylation/déméthylation des histones contribute à la régulation de l’expression des gènes COX-2, mPGES-1, et iNOS dans des chondrocytes OA humains induits par l'IL-1β. Nous avons montré que la méthylation de la lysine K4 de l'histone H3 (H3K4) par SET-1A contribue à l’activation des gènes COX-2 et iNOS dans les chondrocytes humains OA induite par l'IL-1β. Nous avons également montré que la lysine K9 de l’histone H3 (H3K9) est déméthylée par LSD1, et que cette déméthylation contribue à l’expression de la mPGES-1 induite par IL-1β dans les chondrocytes humains OA. Nous avons aussi trouvé que les niveaux d'expression des enzymes SET-1A et LSD1 sont élevés au niveau du cartilage OA. Nos résultats montrent, pour la première fois, l'implication de la méthylation/ déméthylation des histones dans la régulation de l’expression des gènes COX-2, mPGES-1, et iNOS. Ces données suggèrent que ces mécanismes pourraient être une cible potentielle pour une intervention pharmacologique dans le traitement de la physiopathologie de l'OA. / Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disabling disease classified as the most common form of arthritis worldwide. It is characterized by cartilage degeneration, synovium inflammation, and subchondral bone remodeling resulting in a loss of joint function. These structural and functional changes are due to numerous factors. Cytokines, prostaglandins (PG), and reactive oxygen species are the major mediators implicated in the pathophysiology of OA. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a major pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a crucial role in OA. IL-1 induces the expression of Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), as well as their products prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO). These are critical mediators of the inflammatory response during OA causing pain, swelling, and joint tissue destruction. The activation of these pro-inflammatory genes results from different changes at the level of chromatin known as epigenetic modifications. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone modifications play a crucial role in gene expression. Among these modifications, histone methylation/demethylation is the most critical one. Histone methylation/demethylation is mediated by two types of enzymes: histone methyltransferases (HMT) and histone demethylases (HDM) which can either activate or repress transcription. It is therefore necessary to understand the molecular mechanisms which underlie the regulation of COX-2, mPGES-1, and iNOS expression. The objective of this study is to investigate whether histone methylation/demethylation can modulate COX-2, mPGES-1, and iNOS expression in IL-1 induced OA human chondrocytes. We demonstrated that histone H3 lysine K4 (H3K4) methylation by SET-1A contributes to IL-1-induced COX-2 and iNOS expression in human OA Chondrocytes. We showed also that LSD1-mediated demethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) contributes to IL-1β-induced mPGES-1 expression in human OA chondrocytes. We found that levels of SET-1A and LSD1 expression are elevated in OA cartilage as compared with normal cartilage. Our data demonstrates, for the first time, the implication of histone methylation/demethylation in COX-2, mPGES-1, and iNOS regulation suggesting that these mechanisms could be a potential target for pharmacological intervention in the treatment of the pathophysiology of OA.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Nous montrons pour la première fois qu’en plus de la MAPK ERK1/2, l’endothéline-1 (ET-1) via les récepteurs ETA et ETB active une autre MAP kinase : la p38 uniquement dans les cellules de léiomyomes utérins de rate (ELT3) mais pas dans les cellules myométriales saines. Dans les cellules ELT3, l’analyse des voies de signalisation montre que malgré les similitudes observées entre les modes d’activation des voies p38 et ERK1/2 par ET-1, celles-ci sont activées de façon indépendante l’une de l’autre. En plus, la forskoline active p38 (mais pas ERK1/2), par contre l’activation de p38 par ET-1 n’implique pas une production d’AMPc. Par ailleurs ERK1/2 et p38 coactivées par ET-1 coopèrent pour augmenter l’expression de COX2 et la production des prostaglandines E2 (PGE2) pour favoriser l’effet antiapoptotique de ET-1. De plus p38 activée par ET-1 contribue à la prolifération des léiomyomes. Nos résultats élucident les mécanismes par lesquels ET-1 contribue à la croissance des léiomyomes. / We demonstrated for the first time, that in addition to the MAPK ERK1/2, Endothelin-1 (ET-1) through ETA and ETB receptors activated another MAP kinase: p38 only in uterine leiomyoma cells (ELT3) but not in normal myometrial cells. In ELT3 cells, analysis of signaling pathways showed that, despite the similarities between the mechanisms involved in the activation of p38 and ERK1/2 pathways by ET-1, these kinases are activated independently one of another. In addition, forskolin (a cAMP inducer), activated p38 (but not ERK1/2), whereas the activation of p38 by ET-1 did not involve production cAMP. Moreover the coactivated ERK1/2 and p38 pathways by ET-1 cooperated to increase expression of COX2 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. This PGE2 like ET-1 exerted an antiapoptotic effect in ELT3 cells. Furthermore, p38 activated by ET-1 contributes to the proliferation of ELT3 leiomyoma cells. Our data highlight the mechanisms by which ET-1 could promote uterine leiomyoma growth.

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-06-14T17:55:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 RosaHelenaSilva.pdf: 2716670 bytes, checksum: 07dee1e77d704e91281c33c31e8c4938 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-14T17:55:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RosaHelenaSilva.pdf: 2716670 bytes, checksum: 07dee1e77d704e91281c33c31e8c4938 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-10-19 / Borreria verticillata (L.) G. Mey species known as broom vassourinha has antibacterial, antimalarial, hepatoprotective, antioxidative, analgesic and antiinflammatory activities; however, its antinociceptive action still demands more thorough investigation. The present study was to assess the antinociceptive activity of B. verticillata crude hydroalcoholic extract (EHBv) and the ethyl acetate fraction (FAc) by means of in vivo and in silico studies. In vivo assessment included the paw edema test, the writhing test, the formalin test and the tail flick test. Wistar rats and Swiss mice were divided into 6 groups and given the following treatments oral: 0.9% NaCl control group (CTL), 10 mg/kg memantine (MEM), 10 mg/kg indomethacin (INDO), 500 mg/kg EHBv (EHBv 500), 25 mg/kg FAC (FAc 25), 50 mg/kg and FAc (FAC 50). EHBv, FAc 25 and 50 treatments exhibited anti-edematous and peripheral antinociceptive effects. For in silico assessment, compounds found in FAc were subjected to molecular docking, and the leading compound was selected for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Ursolic acid exhibited better affinity parameters with the enzyme COX-2 and the NMDA receptor subunits GluN1a and GluN2B on molecular docking. In MD simulations, AU exhibited highly frequent interactions with residues Arg120 and Glu524 in the COX-2 active site and NMDA, whereby it might prevent COX-2 and NMDA receptor activation. Treatment with ursolic acid 10mg / Kg (AU) showed peripheral and central antinoceceptivo effect. The antinociceptive effect of B. verticillata might be predominantly attributed to peripheral actions, including the participation of anti-inflammatory components. Ursolic acid is the main active component and seems to be a promising source of COX-2 inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists / Borreria verticillata (L.) G. Mey espécie conhecida como vassourinha apresenta atividade antibacteriana, antimalárica, hepatoprotetora, antioxidante, analgésica e anti-inflamatória, entretanto sua atividade antinociceptiva é pouco estudada. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar atividade antinociceptiva do extrato hidroalcoólico bruto (EHBv) e fração acetato de etila (FAc) de B. verticillata realizando estudos in vivo e in silico. Para avaliação in vivo, foram utilizados os testes do edema de pata, contorções abdominais, formalina e tail flick. Ratos Wistar e camundongos Swiss foram tratados via oral e divididos em 6 grupos: controle-NaCl 0.9%(CTL), memantina 10 mg/Kg (MEM), indometacina 10 mg/Kg (INDO), EHBv 500 mg/kg (EHBv 500), FAc 25 mg/Kg (FAc 25), FAc 50 mg/Kg (FAc 50). O tratamento com EHBv 500, FAc 25 e 50 apresentou efeito antiedematogênico e antinociceptivo periférico. Para avaliação in silico os compostos identificados na FAc foram submetidos a docagem molecular, o melhor composto foi selecionado para simulações de dinâmica e testado in vivo molecular. O ácido ursólico apresentou melhores parâmetros de afinidade com COX-2, GluN1a e GluN2B durante a docagem molecular. Nas simulações por dinâmica molecular, o ácido ursólico apresentou alta frequência de contatos com Arg120 e Glu524 do local ativo da COX- 2 e com o domínio LBD da Glun1a e GluN2B podendo com isso, impedir a ativação da COX-2 e do receptor NMDA. O tratamento com ácido ursólico 10mg/Kg (AU) apresentou efeito antinoceceptivo periférico e central. Sugere-se que o efeito antinociceptivo periférico de B. verticillata pode ser atribuído predominantemente à ação de compostos com ação anti-inflamatória. O ácido ursólico é o principal composto ativo, sendo um composto promissor para o desenvolvimento de fármacos inibidores da COX-2 e antagonistas dos receptores NMDA.

En bloquant les deux voies majeures de métabolisation de l’acide arachidonique, les inhibiteurs mixtes 5-LOX/COX-2 sont de puissants agents anti-inflammatoires non stéroïdiens minimisant les effets secondaires gastro-intestinaux et allergiques (asthme). Par ailleurs, ils offrent de nouvelles perspectives dans le traitement préventif de certains cancers. Contrairement à la COX-2, déjà largement étudiée, le niveau de connaissances concernant la 5-LOX humaine est beaucoup plus restreint. Notre objectif a donc été de caractériser sa structure ainsi que son mode d’interaction avec des inhibiteurs de type non redox, dans le but d’aider à la conception rationnelle d’inhibiteurs mixtes 5-LOX/COX-2. Dans un premier temps, la comparaison d’inhibiteurs 5-LOX non redox de la littérature a permis de mettre en évidence un modèle de pharmacophore à 5 points. Par ailleurs, la structure 3D de la 5-LOX humaine n’étant pas encore déterminée, nous l’avons modélisée par homologie avec la 15-LOX de lapin cristallisée et nous avons étudié, par docking, le mode d’interaction d’inhibiteurs 5-LOX non redox au sein du site actif. La combinaison des approches centrées, respectivement, sur les ligands et sur la protéine, nous a permis d’affiner l’hypothèse de pharmacophore et de proposer un modèle général d’interaction au sein du site actif 5-LOX./Dual 5-LOX/COX-2 inhibitors, acting on both major arachidonic acid metabolic pathways, are potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, with a reduced gastro-intestinal toxicity and fewer allergic adverse reactions. Moreover, they are promising in the treatment of several cancers. Whereas COX-2 has already been extensively studied, little structural or mechanistic information is available regarding human 5-LOX. Therefore, we focussed on this enzyme and characterized its 3D structure as well as its interaction with non redox inhibitors in order to help the design of dual 5-LOX/COX-2 inhibitors. Firstly, comparison of non redox 5-LOX inhibitors from the literature led to the generation of a five-point pharmacophore model. The 3D structure of human 5-LOX was then modelled based on the crystal structure of rabbit 15-LOX and, the binding modes of representative ligands were investigated through docking studies. Combination of both ligand-based and target-based approaches allowed the refinement of the pharmacophore hypothesis and led to the proposal of an interaction model for non redox inhibitors inside the 5-LOX active site.

Inflammatory processes in, or in close vicinity of, the skeleton often lead to loss of bone tissue. Different cytokines have been shown to be involved as stimulators of inflammatory induced osteoclastic bone resorption. During inflammatory processes also the kallikrein-kinin system is activated, leading to production of kinins that can cause pain, vasodilation and increased permeability of vessels. Kinins can also induce bone resorption in vitro. All cytokines and kinins that stimulate bone resorption stimulate in parallell prostaglandin synthesis, and prostaglandins, per se, have also been shown to induce bone resorption. The aim of this project was to increase the knowledge about the mechanisms involved in the interactions between different inflammatory mediators (i.e. kinins, cytokines and prostaglandins) suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bone resorbing diseases. Human osteoblasts (MG-63) are equipped with both kinin B1 and B2 receptors linked to prostaglandin release and the stimulation of prostaglandin release are likely mediated via separate molecular mechanisms (Paper I). Activation of B1 or B2 receptors causes synergistic stimulation of PGE2 synthesis induced by either interleukin-1b (IL-1b) or tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) (Paper II). The molecular mechanism involves increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and results in synergistic potentiation of receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) protein expression. The synergistic interaction is dependent on the activation of NF-kB and the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) p38 and JNK (Paper II). The synergistic increase in RANKL expression might be an explanation why kinins potentiate IL-1b induced bone resorption, a mechanism likely to be important in inflammation induced bone resorption in diseases such as periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis. The synergism between kinins and IL-1b or TNF-a might also be dependent on regulation of kinin receptors, since both IL-1b and TNF-a markedly upregulated B1 and B2 receptors, both at the mRNA level and protein level (Paper III). This upregulation is not further potentiated by the kinins, and different kinin receptor agonists do not regulate the receptors for IL-1b or TNF-a, in MG-63 cells. No other cytokines known to stimulate bone resorption regulates the expressions of B1 and B2 receptors. The IL-1b- or TNF-a-induced enhancements of B1 and B2 receptor expressions involve activation of NF-kB and MAPK. The enhancement of kinin receptors may also be an important mechanism in the synergistic interactions between the two pro-inflammatory cytokines and kinins (paper III). IL-4 and IL-13 are two cytokines that have been shown to inhibit bone resorption. We have shown that COX-2 and both B1 and B2 receptors are down-regulated by IL-4 and IL-13, via a ‘signal transducer and activator of transcription6’ (STAT6) dependent pathway, which might be an important regulatory mechanism in inflammation induced bone resorption (paper IV). In conclusion, the mechanisms behind the synergistic potentiation of prostaglandin formation and increased bone resorption caused by co-stimulation with kinins and IL-1b or TNF-a seem to involve both potentiation of COX-2 and subsequently increased levels of RANKL, as well as upregulation of B1 and B2 kinin receptors. Interestingly, IL-4 and IL-13 decreased the expressions of COX-2 and both B1 and B2 receptors. These events might be important in the regulation of inflammation induced bone resorption in diseases such as periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

We are unceasingly exposed to potentially harmful microorganisms. The battle against threatening infectious agents includes activation of both the innate and of the adaptive immune systems. Illness responses are elicited and include inflammation, fever, decreased appetite, lethargy and increased sensitivity to painful stimuli in order to defeat invaders. While many of these signs of disease are controlled by the central nervous system, it has remained an enigma how signals from the peripheral immune system reach the brain through its blood-brain barrier, which precludes macromolecules, including cytokines, from diffusing into the brain parenchyma. Previous findings indicate the existence of a pathway across the blood-brain barrier, which includes binding of the cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) to its receptor in the brain vessels, thereby inducing the production of the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesizing enzymes cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1), which ultimately synthesize PGE2. PGE2 subsequently binds to any of the four prostaglandin E2 (EP) -receptors. Previous results from our laboratory have suggested that this pathway plays a critical role in the febrile response to infectious stimuli. The present thesis aims at further investigating the molecular events underlying immune-to-brain signalling, with special emphasis on fever, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) -axis activation and anorexia and their connection to signalling molecules of the cytokine and prostaglandin families, respectively. In paper I, the molecular processes linking the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and PGE2 in the febrile response were investigated. Both IL-6 and PGE2 have been shown to be critical players in the febrile response, although the molecular connections are not known, i.e. if IL-6 exerts its effects up- or downstream of PGE2. Mice deficient in IL-6 were unable to respond to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with a febrile response, but displayed similar induction of Cox-2 and mPGES-1, and similar concentrations of PGE2 in the cerebrospinal fluid as wild-type mice. Paradoxically, the IL-6 deficient mice responded with a dose-dependent elevation of body temperature in response to intracerebroventricularly injected PGE2. Furthermore, IL-6 per se was not pyrogenic when injected peripherally in mice, and did not cause increased levels of PGE2 in cerebrospinal fluid. IL-6 deficient mice were not refractory to the action of PGE2 because of excess production of some hypothermia-producing factor, since administration of a Cox-2 inhibitor in LPS-challenged IL-6 deficient mice did not unmask any hypothermic response, and neutralization of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), associated with hypothermia, did not produce fever in LPS-challenged IL-6 deficient mice. These data indicate that IL-6 rather than exerting its effects up- or down-stream of PGE2 affects some process in parallel to PGE2, perhaps by influencing the diffusion and binding of PGE2 onto its target neurons. In papers II and III, we injected the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β in free-fed wild-type mice, in mice with a deletion of the gene encoding mPGES-1, or in mice deficient in the EP1, EP2 and EP3. Food intake was continuously measured during their active period, revealing that mPGES-1 deficient mice were almost completely resistant to anorexia induced by IL-1β. However, all of the investigated EP receptor deficient mice exhibited a normal profound anorexic response to IL-1β challenge, suggesting that the EP4 is the critical receptor that mediates IL-1β-induced anorexia. We also investigated the role of mPGES-1 in anorexia induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mPGES-1 deficient mice. The profound anorexic response after LPS-challenge was similar in mPGES-1 deficient and wild-type mice. To further investigate the anorectic behaviour after LPS injection, we pre-starved the animals for 22 hours before injecting them with LPS. In this paradigm, the anorexia was less profound in mPGES-1 knock-out mice. Our results suggest that while the inflammatory anorexia elicited by peripheral IL-1β seems largely to be dependent on mPGES-1-mediated PGE2 synthesis, similar to the febrile response, the LPS-induced anorexia is independent of this mechanism in free-fed mice but not in pre-starved animals. In papers IV and V, the role of prostanoids for the immune-induced HPA-axis response was investigated in mice after genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of prostanoid-synthesizing enzymes, including Cox-1, Cox-2, and mPGES-1. The immediate LPS-induced release of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosteroids was critically dependent on Cox-1 derived prostanoids and occurred independently of Cox-2 and mPGES-1 derived PGE2. In contrast, the delayed HPA-axis response was critically dependent on immune-induced PGE2, synthesized by Cox-2 and mPGES-1, and occurred independently of Cox-1 derived enzymes. In addition, in the mPGES-1 deficient mice, the synthesis of CRH hnRNA and mRNA was decreased in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus after LPS-challenge, indicating that the delayed hormone secretion was mediated by PGE2-induced gene-transcription of CRH in the hypothalamus. The expression of the c-fos gene and Fos protein, an index of synaptic activation, was maintained in the paraventricular nucleus and its brainstem afferents both after unselective and Cox-2 selective inhibition as well as in Cox-1, Cox-2, and mPGES-1 knock-out mice. This suggests that the immune-induced neuronal activation of autonomic relay nuclei occurs independently of prostanoid synthesis and that it is insufficient for eliciting stress hormone release.

[Truncated abstract] Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the major malignancy complicating chronic liver disease. New therapies for the prevention of HCC are required due to the limited success and high tumour recurrence rates of existing treatments. Emerging evidence suggests that HCC arise from the transformation of adult liver progenitor cells (LPCs), which have the capacity to differentiate into hepatocytes and biliary cells during liver regeneration. LPC activation precedes neoplasia in experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. LPCs share antigenic epitopes with HCCs, including α-fetoprotein (AFP) and M2- pyruvate kinase (M2PK). In animal models of hepatocarcinogenesis, attenuation of the LPC response reduces the incidence of HCC following prolonged liver injury via a tumour necrosis factor (TNF) dependent mechanism. As TNF is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, these data suggest that anti-inflammatory agents may be effective in inhibiting LPC activation and hepatocarcinogenesis. Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an inducible enzyme that mediates the production of many prostaglandins during inflammation and carcinogenesis. Recent investigations show that the administration of selective COX-2 inhibitors (SC2Is) may reduce the incidence of a variety of tumours including breast, colon and skin. The broad aim of this thesis was to conduct a series of detailed studies on the effects of a SC2I on LPC activation and the hepatic pathologies associated with hepatocarcinogenesis in order to test the hypothesis that S2CIs may be a beneficial therapy that can reduce liver injury and pre-neoplastic changes in the choline-deficient, ethionine supplemented (CDE) murine model of hepatocarcinogenesis. Administration of a SC2I (SC-236) significantly inhibited a variety of hepatic cell populations that expand during the first month of the CDE mouse model of hepatocarcinogenesis (a choline deficient, ethionine supplemented diet). Numbers of M2PK-positive LPCs (which are more hepatocytic in morphology and are also COX-2 positive) and inflammatory cells were all significantly reduced by SC-236. In contrast, numbers of A6-positive LPCs (which are more biliary cell-like in morphology and do not express COX-2) were unchanged. ... In summary, these data suggest that COX-2 inhibitors such as SC-236 inhibit LPC activation and a variety of pre-neoplastic liver pathologies as a result of COX-2 dependent and independent mechanisms that may be mediated through inhibition of Akt phosphorylation and induction of apoptosis. Moreover, SC2Is may be useful as preventative treatment strategies for HCC in patients with chronic liver disease.

Οι μηνισκικές ρήξεις διακρίνονται σε τραυματικές και εκφυλιστικές. Κλινικά δεδομένα υποδηλώνουν ότι η εκφύλιση των μηνίσκων συσχετίζεται με την οστεοαρθρίτιδα του γόνατος. Παρ’ όλα αυτά, τα μοριακά γεγονότα που καθορίζουν την παθογένεια της εκφύλισης των μηνίσκων σε ανθρώπους παραμένουν αδιευκρίνιστα. Στη μελέτη εξετάστηκε ανοσοϊστοχημικά η έκφραση της p38 MAPKινάσης, της ενεργού φωσφορυλιομένης μορφής της p-p38, του στόχου NF-kB (με τα διμερή p50-p65) καθώς και της COX-2 σε μηνισκικές ρήξεις, και διερευνήθηκε η συμμετοχή τους στην ανάπτυξη εκφύλισης. Τα ευρήματα απέδειξαν αυξημένη έκφραση του άξονα p38-NF-kB και της COX-2 στον αποδιοργανωμένο και εκφυλισμένο ινοχόνδρινο μηνισκικό ιστό, υποδεικνύοντας ένα ρόλο των μορίων αυτών στην παθοβιοχημεία της εκφύλισης και της επακόλουθης ρήξης. Η μελέτη είχε σκοπό να διερευνήσει και να χαρακτηρίσει την έκφραση και την ενεργοποίηση του σηματοδοτικού μονοπατιού της p38 MAPK-NF-kB και της COX-2 στα ινοχονδροκύτταρα των ανθρώπινων μηνίσκων με ρήξη. Επιπρόσθετα συσχετίσαμε τα επίπεδα έκφρασης των πρωτεϊνών αυτών με παθολογοανατομικές και κλινικές παραμέτρους, όπως η ύπαρξη εκφύλισης και η συνύπαρξη κλινικά εξακριβωμένης ΟΑ. Χρησιμοποιήθηκαν 57 ανθρώπινοι μηνίσκοι. 43 (75,4%) άνδρες και 14 (24,6%) γυναίκες, με μέσο όρο ηλικίας 32,6 έτη, με διάρκεια πόνου 17,36 μήνες. Σε 39 ασθενείς (68,4%) η ρήξη αποδόθηκε σε τραύμα και σε 18 (31,6%) σε προϋπάρχουσα κλινικά διαγνωσμένη ΟΑ. Η ιστοπαθολογοανατομική διευκρίνιση της μηνισκικής εκφύλισης βασίστηκε σε καθιερωμένα μικροσκοπικά κριτήρια. Εκφύλιση παρατηρήθηκε σε 34 μηνίσκους (59,4%). Χρησιμοποιήθηκαν τα αντισώματα, anti p38, anti p-p38 (μονοκλωνικά αντισώματα έναντι της ενεργοποιημένης μορφής), anti NF-kB, p50 πολυκλωνική, anti NFkBp65 πολυκλωνική και antiCOX-2. Η ένταση της χρώσης και η αναλογία των ανοσοθετικών ινοχονδροκυττάρων εκτιμήθηκε μικροσκοπικά και βαθμολογήθηκε σε κλίμακα 0-3 (0= χωρίς ανοσοδραστικότητα, 1= ήπια, 2= μέτρια, 3= ισχυρή). Στατιστική ανάλυση έγινε με τη δοκιμασία Mann-Whitney και η ισχύς της συσχέτισης των μεταβλητών με το Kendall’s T test, χρησιμοποιώντας το SPSS. 1.Η έκφραση της p38 ήταν στατιστικά σημαντικά υψηλότερη στους εκφυλισμένους συγκριτικά με μη εκφυλισμένους μηνίσκους. Μηνίσκοι σε ασθενείς με προϋπάρχουσα ΟΑ έδειξαν επίσης στατιστικά σημαντικά αυξημένη p38 σε σύγκριση με αυτούς με μη προϋπάρχουσα ΟΑ. 2.Η p-p38 είχε σημαντικά αυξημένη έκφραση σε εκφυλισμένους μηνίσκους έναντι μη εκφυλισμένων και σε ραγέντες μηνίσκους με ΟΑ σε σχέση με μη ΟΑ. 3.Οι υπομονάδες p50 και p65 ως τροποποιητές του άξονα p38-NFkB έδειξαν σημαντικά υψηλότερα επίπεδα στην εκφύλιση και την οστεοαρθρίτιδα. 4.Τα επίπεδα της COX-2 ήταν σημαντικά διαφορετικά μεταξύ εκφυλισμένων και μη εκφυλισμένων και σε οστεοαρθριτικές και μη αρθρώσεις, και συσχετίζονται απόλυτα με τη διακύμανση των προηγούμενων βημάτων του άξονα. 5.Η στατιστική ανάλυση αποκάλυψε σημαντική και θετική συσχέτιση μεταξύ COX-2 και p38-NF-kB και παράλληλη διακύμανσή της. / Meniscal tears are attributed to either trauma or degeneration processes. Clinical data suggest that meniscal degeneration (MD) is associated with knee osteoarthritis; however, the molecular events underpinning the pathogenesis of MD in humans remain elusive. Here we immunohistochemically examined the expression of p38 MAPK, its phosphorylated activated form p-p38, its target NF-kB (p50-p65 dimer), and COX-2 in ruptured menisci and investigated their involvement in MD development. Our findings demonstrate increased expression of the p38-NF-kB axis elements and COX-2 in disintegrated fibrocartilage suggesting a role of these molecules in the pathobiochemistry of MD and consequential rupture. We undertook this study to explore and characterize the expression and/or activation profile of the p38 MAPK-NF-kB signaling path away constituents and COX-2 in the fibrochondrocytes of human torn menisci. Furthermore we correlated the expression levels of the examined proteins with pathologic and clinical parameters, such as the presence of fibrocartilaginus degeneration and the coexistence of clinically identified OA. 57 human menisci were used for this study. Among the patients 43 (75,4%) were male and 14 (24,6%) female with mean age 32,6 years, with pain duration 17,36 months. In 39 patients (68,4%) meniscal tearing was attributed to trauma and in 18 (31,6%) to a background of clinically diagnosed OA. The histopathologic identification of meniscal degeneration (MD) was based on established microscopy criteria. MD was observed in 34 (59,4%) of the menisci. The following available antibodies were employed (anti-p 38), anti p-p38 (activated form monoclonal), anti NF-kB, p50 polyclonal, anti NFkBp65 polyclonal and anti COX-2. Strain intensity and proportion of immunopositive fibrochondrocytes was assessed by light microscopy and graded on a scale 0-3 (0= no immunoreachivity, 1= mild, 2= moderate, 3= strong). Statistical analysis was made with Mann-Whitney tests and the strength of association between the variables by Kendall’s T test, using SPSS for Windows. 1.Expression of p-38 was significantly higher in degenerated compared with non degenerated menisci. Menisci from patients with preexisting OA showed significantly increased p38 expression levels compared to those with no preexisting OA. 2.p-p38 expression was considerably elevated in degenerated compared with non degenerated and in OA compared with non OA ruptured menisci. 3.The downstream effectors of p38 NF-kB subunits p50 and p65, exhibited significantly higher levels in degenerated and OA fibrocartilage. 4.COX-2 levels were significantly different between degenerated and non degenerated menisci, as well as between OA and non OA joints. 5.Statistical analysis revealed significant and positive correlation between COX-2 and p-38 and NF-kB.